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"So it wouldn't surprise me if he came out and played really well. You know, he's Tiger Woods and, to be honest, I hope that he does come out and play really well."

Leishman is skipping the event to instead return home to contest the Australian PGA Championship on the Gold Coast the same week.

Regardless how Woods fares in an event he's previously won five times, Leishman believes the superstar's appearance is great for golf.

"He's done so much for the game and he's been so unbelievably successful and a role model for so many people," he said.

"So it's awesome to see him coming back."

Woods also played the Hero World Challenge last year after a long-term injury layoff, topping birdie count with tournament winner Hideki Matsuyama but finishing 15th out of the 17 players who completed four rounds.

He missed the cut in his next start, at the Farmers Insurance Open, before pulling up lame in Dubai.